Discovering What's Missing

[Darkhawk]

I'm not sure what I'm asking in this thread. I guess, if anyone has felt this way before, what did you do? I'm not looking to leave Kemeticism; I love my Gods and my Patron especially. Yet I feel like Kemeticism is not inspiring me to put that spirituality and love into practice.

 
Not quite this, but the following is how I wound up back (eventually, I didn't exactly go "how high" to this "Jump!") on a religious witchcraft path:

Set:  Kid, you're broken.
Me:  ... granted.
Set:  You're not a fit servant for me when you're broken.
Me:  Fair enough.
Set:  You're not going to find what you need in Egypt.
Me:  ... so what am I supposed to do?
Set:  Study Feri.
Me:  ... I can see why you like it, it's all about sex and power.

Sometimes the road has kinks in it.

[SatAset]

Yeah.  Aset sent me to study the Yoruba and then sent Oya to me who I've been worshiping since that time.  

It sounds to me like you should give Shintoism a shot.  Anpu may be guiding you down that path to help you find what you are missing.  I second the recommendation for the Grand Tsubaki Shrine of America.

[Firaza]

I would love to make a shrine visit, but am also pretty far away. Doesn't mean you can't still get involved with the shrine, if it really calls to you. They offer memberships to people, and the Rev. will perform regular rites for you and your family throughout the year. Usually gets you an ofuda and all of that as well- if you wanted one.

I still interact regularly through the FB group. Allows me to learn things without having to ask questions directly.

-Devo

 
Oh, I see. Well, I sent a request to the Facebook group! Here goes nothing!

[Firaza]

I mean, if it's helpful to remember, Anpu is called "Guide to the Lost" for good reason, and if anyone understands moving on the edges between worlds, He does.  That and, well, psychopomps are everywhere because Their work is everywhere, all the time.  I don't think you'd have to leave Him behind.

 
This is very true. I hadn't even thought of that.

[Valentine]

Sometimes the road has kinks in it.

Can I get a rimshot for my august sororal figure up in here?  Rimshot?  Is there a drummer in the house?

No but seriously.  OP, if your patron's Anpu, in the same way that Set will be inclined to approach a thing that's not working as "you are broken here is a way to make you stronger" or "here allow me to painfully initiate you by turning your entire life upside down and shaking it" because of His nature, Anpu is what He is, and that's about putting torn-up things back together and bringing lost things home.  You might be in for a gentler ride than if you had someone else at your back--not easier, because it's never easy, and not simpler, because, well--but maybe gentler.

Having your heart weighed and sorted isn't going to be painless, but we get the guides we get, and they guide us in their own way.

[Fireof9]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place!

This thread in the Reformed Kemeticism SIG, particularly Devo's first post, got me thinking: Recently, I've been suffering from a spiritual block. I recognize the connection I have with my Gods, but I don't have the motivation to practice as I want to in the typical Kemetic sense. Meanwhile, I have always been incredibly moved by the power and energy I feel around Shinto shrines. After studying in Japan, I returned home with a renewed respect for and interest in the pervasiveness of Shinto in the Japanese culture.

While suffering this spiritual block, I thought that if I forced myself to make offerings and do ritual as I've always done them, I'd break through the block. However, Devo's post made me wonder if following a different path is actually the answer, and if it could help me find what I feel is missing.

I'm not sure what I'm asking in this thread. I guess, if anyone has felt this way before, what did you do? I'm not looking to leave Kemeticism; I love my Gods and my Patron especially. Yet I feel like Kemeticism is not inspiring me to put that spirituality and love into practice.

 
I have run into this before. I am a Gwyddon, but I study many different paths just to learn about them. I had quit doing that and that is when I ran into that block. Once I began to randomly look at the practices and beliefs of other traditions and paths that block was gone and my progress as a Gwyddon picked up again as well.

[Sage]

Can I get a rimshot for my august sororal figure up in here?  Rimshot?  Is there a drummer in the house?

 
*ba dum TISH* Exactly what I was thinking.

[Firaza]

I have run into this before. I am a Gwyddon, but I study many different paths just to learn about them. I had quit doing that and that is when I ran into that block. Once I began to randomly look at the practices and beliefs of other traditions and paths that block was gone and my progress as a Gwyddon picked up again as well.

 
I had stopped researching other paths, thinking I should focus instead on Kemeticism, when my motivation and general interest started fading. I guess it's time to go back to that.

[Fireof9]

I had stopped researching other paths, thinking I should focus instead on Kemeticism, when my motivation and general interest started fading. I guess it's time to go back to that.

 
Exactly. I spent the better part of a year focussing on NOTHING but Gwyddon.I found I was learning nothing. I was not responding spiritually at all. Or thats what it felt like. When I started studying other paths I felt myself blossoming again, also I realized how truly Gwyddon I am. I studied these other paths from that viewpoint without even knowing it. I learned a great deal about other paths and myself, and I think because of it I bring much more to the table in my Gwyddon College now and I feel richer for it as well.

[HeartShadow]

I'm not sure what I'm asking in this thread. I guess, if anyone has felt this way before, what did you do? I'm not looking to leave Kemeticism; I love my Gods and my Patron especially. Yet I feel like Kemeticism is not inspiring me to put that spirituality and love into practice.

 
Honestly, this - exactly this - was the reason I started FlameKeeping.  Because I found a lot of beautiful spiritual structure out there, and NOTHING on how to actually LIVE it.  Not that people couldn't cobble it together, but why have life built from the top-down if it's not absolutely necessary?

I'm not saying the result needs to be FlameKeeping - but I am saying that Western neo-paganism seems to fall down a LOT when it comes to how to actually LIVE.  Which is the gap I'm trying to fill.

[Fireof9]

Honestly, this - exactly this - was the reason I started FlameKeeping.  Because I found a lot of beautiful spiritual structure out there, and NOTHING on how to actually LIVE it.  Not that people couldn't cobble it together, but why have life built from the top-down if it's not absolutely necessary?

I'm not saying the result needs to be FlameKeeping - but I am saying that Western neo-paganism seems to fall down a LOT when it comes to how to actually LIVE.  Which is the gap I'm trying to fill.

Do you mean there is a bunch of core beliefs, but not a lot of information on how to apply it to your day to day spiritual and mundane life?

[HeartShadow]

Do you mean there is a bunch of core beliefs, but not a lot of information on how to apply it to your day to day spiritual and mundane life?

 
Yep.  There's no foundation that I can find.

Oathbound religions might have them, but of course I can't see those.  Some groups clearly manage to build a structure that works for them, but it tends to be by people that already HAVE that internal structure.

But by and large?  There's no foundation to bring the beliefs into daily life.

[Fireof9]

Yep.  There's no foundation that I can find.

Oathbound religions might have them, but of course I can't see those.  Some groups clearly manage to build a structure that works for them, but it tends to be by people that already HAVE that internal structure.

But by and large?  There's no foundation to bring the beliefs into daily life.

 
I have noticed that as well. I think the thing that brought all of that into focus for me was getting to know Heathens and reading up a lot of stuff about Asatru. It clicked with me that in the end no religion can tell you how to live your life. Either the information is something that you can apply to your life or it is not. So it comes down to the individual and what they want out of religion. When I realized this I went back and looked at all the things I had learned. I looked at all things in my religion and asked myself if they were things that could help me be a better father, husband, co-worker and over all person. I found that they were if I chose to apply them in that manner. If I did not then it was just a bunch of really neat sounding metaphysical jabbering.

So I think that it is up to each person to decide to apply the lessons of their path to their lives. For the person to do the work and not depend on the religion to tell them what to do.

In your case you just went and built your own path. I have read your website extensively and I think what you did is fantastic. Whether or not I personally agree with it all or think it could apply to my life is not what I looked at either - what I saw was someone actively DOING something. Taking it into their own hands and making it work. I think that everyone can choose to do that with their religion be it Wicca, Gwyddon, Druidism, Flamekeeping, Kemeticism, Hellenism, Feri ( apologies to all those I missed :p ). The religion I think is not important, its what you do with it. If a person can't find anything in it that helps improve their day to day life, personally I think they are likely wasting thier time.

[HeartShadow]

 
Agree with a caveat - it helps to have the right QUESTIONS.  No reason to make everyone need to reinvent the wheel every single time!

[SatSekhem]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place!

This thread in the Reformed Kemeticism SIG, particularly Devo's first post, got me thinking: Recently, I've been suffering from a spiritual block. I recognize the connection I have with my Gods, but I don't have the motivation to practice as I want to in the typical Kemetic sense. Meanwhile, I have always been incredibly moved by the power and energy I feel around Shinto shrines. After studying in Japan, I returned home with a renewed respect for and interest in the pervasiveness of Shinto in the Japanese culture.

While suffering this spiritual block, I thought that if I forced myself to make offerings and do ritual as I've always done them, I'd break through the block. However, Devo's post made me wonder if following a different path is actually the answer, and if it could help me find what I feel is missing.

I'm not sure what I'm asking in this thread. I guess, if anyone has felt this way before, what did you do? I'm not looking to leave Kemeticism; I love my Gods and my Patron especially. Yet I feel like Kemeticism is not inspiring me to put that spirituality and love into practice.

 
I guess my problem with this whole branching out thing is the fact that (A) I'm terrified that in so doing, I'll forget my goddess and (B), I don't know where to look. I mean, so many different things pique my interest, but not nearly so much as all-things Egyptian. I'm reading about vodoun right now, but how do I know this is the way to go?

Veggiewolf and Shad mention FK. I see and appreciate where they are and I'm moderately intrigued, but how do I know that I should go down that road? And on the heels of that, I can't help but think: Gah. Celtic stuff? Gah.* And then, I move on and think about heathenry and Hinduism and all of the rest. While I'm interested in these paths, it's an ambiguous interest. If a book is to plop in front of me or my Wiki-clicking takes me there, then sure. I'll read about it. However, I'm not interested in actively seeking the information. It doesn't pique enough interest for me.

And thus, here I am. So utterly fucking confused and scared and worried and uncertain. Le. Sigh.

I will say, though, it's nice knowing that I'm not alone.

* I have nothing against Celtic anything. It's more of a personal block than anything else.